NEW DELHI, APR 22
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said there can be no compromise on the safety of healthcare professionals fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, and asserted that the ordinance approved by the Union cabinet shows the government's commitment in this regard. He said the ordinance will ensure safety of our professionals. “There can be no compromise on their safety!,” Modi tweeted, and added that the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 “manifested the government's commitment to protect each and every healthcare worker who is bravely battling COVID-19 on the frontline.”The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved an ordinance, making acts of violence and harassment against healthcare personnel deployed in combating COVID-19 a non-bailable offence with maximum punishment of seven years imprisonment and Rs 5 lakh fine. The ordinance will protect the whole healthcare fraternity, including doctors, nurses and ASHA workers, an official release said.Amid rising incidents of violence against healthcare workers on the frontline of the fight against COVID-19, the IMA had called for a nation-wide ‘White Alert', asking doctors and hospitals across the country to light candles on Wednesday as a protest against such attacks. However, earlier in the day, the association called off the protest after a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit shah.The Indian Medical Association (IMA) had also been demanding a Central law to deal with the crimes against healthcare professionals.
- Ordinance issued to protect Doctors, Health Workers from violence
NL CORRESPONDENT
NEW DELHI, APR 22: Union Minister Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday (April 22) said that Union Cabinet meeting, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved an ordinance to end violence against doctors and health workers with an amendment to Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897.
Max. Jail 7 years, fine upto Rs. 5 lac
“In the case of grievous injuries, the accused can be sentenced from 6 months to 7 years. They can be penalised from Rs 1 Lakh to Rs 5 Lakh,” said Prakash Javadekar, adding “Such crime will now be cognizable offence and non-bailable. The investigation will be done within 30 days. Accused can be sentenced for 3 months to 5 years and slapped with a fine from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh.”
According to the Union Minister, the ordinance has been brought as “Health workers who are trying to save the country from this epidemic are unfortunately facing attacks,” adding “No incident of violence or harassment, against them will be tolerated. An ordinance has been brought in, it'll be implemented after President's sanction.”
He also said that if the vehicles of health workers are attacked or their clinic is damaged, they will be compensated double the amount of the loss as per the market value. The Ordinance has been implemented across the country, he added.
According to the minister, the government has also provisioned insurance of Rs 50 lakh for these health workers involved in containing coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
Asked whether the new changes in the law will be applicable even after the threat of COVID-19 is over, Javadekar told reporters that the ordinance has been approved to amend the Epidemic Act. “But it is a good beginning,” he said, without elaborating.
- Provide security; appoint Nodal Officers: Centre to States, UTs
New Delhi, Apr 22
The Centre on Wednesday asked all states and union territories to provide adequate security to doctors and frontline health workers who are facing attacks from unruly people.In a letter to chief secretaries of all states and union territories, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla also flagged a few heinous instances of unruly behaviour by people where the families and relatives of medical professionals, suspected to have died due to COVID-19 infection, were prevented from performing the last rites of the deceased.”In such cases, adequate security should be provided; and stringent action should be taken against such offenders who obstruct the performance of last rites of medical professionals or frontline healthcare workers, who, unfortunately, succumb to the infection from COVID-19 while discharging their services, or otherwise,” the letter said.Bhalla said the state governments and union territory administrations are also requested to appoint nodal officers at state or union territory level and at district level, who would be available 24×7 to redress any safety issue on the functioning of medical professionals.The states and union territories should also take immediate and strict action in case any incident of violence takes place, he said.Bhalla also said necessary police security should also be extended to doctors and other medical staff who visit places to conduct screening of people to find out symptoms of disease.The home secretary's letter came hours after a delegation of doctors and Indian Medical Association had an interaction with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who assured them security for healthcare workers.The central government on Wednesday also decided to promulgate an ordinance specifying penal provisions against those who attacks on healthcare workers.In his letter, Bhalla also highlighted his three earlier communications where he had requested chief secretaries and DGPs to ensure adequate protection to healthcare professionals, medical staff and frontline workers by augmenting their safety and security cover.”In spite of these communications, some incidents of violence have been reported from different parts of the country against healthcare professionals and frontline workers,” he said.Bhalla urged the states and union territories to invoke provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 or any other law in force, to take strict penal action against the offenders who obstruct government health officials or other health professionals or related persons, who are authorised under the said act in the discharge of their lawful services.”You are aware that the whole-hearted and untiring services rendered by the entire medical fraternity, while even risking their lives, has enabled the country to resist the spread of the highly infectious COVID-19 virus, that has already been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO).”At this time, Bhalla said, any single incident of violence against healthcare professionals is likely to create a sense of insecurity amongst the entire healthcare community.He drew attention of the chief secretaries to the April 8 direction of the Supreme Court where it had said, “The government of India, respective states and union territories and respective police authorities are directed to provide the necessary police security to the doctors and medical staff in hospitals and places where patients who have been diagnosed COVID-19 or patients suspected of COVID-19 or those quarantined are housed.”This direction of the apex court was conveyed by the home ministry to all states and union territories on April 11.”Therefore, it is the responsibility of all state governments and union territory administrations, district administrations and law enforcement agencies to take all necessary measures to ensure adequate protection to healthcare professionals and frontline workers, and to prevent any incident of violence against them,” the letter said.The measures to be taken in this regard should be finalised in consultation with the local chapters of the Indian Medical Association and the members of the IMA should be kept apprised of the actions taken to create a sense of security and confidence among the health fraternity.He also impressed upon the strict penalties provided under the Disaster Management Act against any person who obstructs any officer or employee of the central government or the state government, or any authorised person in the discharge of his duties.The home secretary said details of preventive measures taken and appointment of nodal officers should be widely publicised among the medical fraternity, including the local chapters of the IMA, as well as to the public at large, to ensure compliance at ground level.Further, it is requested that details of action taken by state governments and union territory administrations should be informed to the home ministry and the health ministry.
